OpenAI fired three researchers after asking to see their Signal disappearing messages
j_asminewang · x · 2026-10-23
Per NBC News, the three researchers OpenAI fired last month had spent the summer fighting to keep AI chain-of-thought visible — then OpenAI asked to see their Signal chats, and a week later they were let go.
- Investigators named Greenblatt as the suspected leaker and asked for his Signal chats; two of the researchers say OpenAI leaders cited their use of disappearing messages as a reason for termination
- All three deny ever sharing OpenAI confidential information externally
- An OpenAI spokesperson said Signal use wasn't approved but wasn't the sole reason; Korbak called disappearing messages a "basic security best practice" in Silicon Valley
- Commenters note OpenAI appears to have found no evidence of actual wrongdoing — mere use of disappearing messages sufficed
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